Lords debates Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill

17 July 2018

Members of the Lords, including a vice-president of the Alzheimer's Society and the former chair of the Values-based Child and Adolescent Mental Health System Commission, discussed the key principles and purpose of the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill during second reading, on Monday 16 July.

Members discussed range of subjects, including the elimination of repeat assessments when an individual moves between care homes or hospitals, the definition of what constitutes a 'deprivation of liberty' and improved access to legal aid for vulnerable persons.

Baroness Barran (Conservative), chair of the Henry Smith Charity, made her maiden speech.

Lord O'Shaughnessy (Conservative), parliamentary under-secretary in the Department of Health and Social Care, responded on behalf of the government.

Committee stage, the first chance for line-by-line scrutiny, is scheduled for 5 September.

Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill summary

This bill will reform the process in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 for authorising arrangements enabling the care or treatment of people who lack capacity to consent to such arrangements, which give rise to a deprivation of their liberty.